Joaquin Niemann incurred a two-shot penalty at the US Open on Friday, escalating a disastrous hole and underscoring golf’s intensified crackdown on player conduct.
The Chilean golfer was penalized for throwing his club on the sixth hole, an incident occurring during the fog-delayed opening round.
The additional two strokes inflated Niemann’s score on the par-4 sixth hole to an 11. His woes began with two lost tee shots veering right into deep grass. He stood even par for the tournament before reaching the sixth, which marked his 15th hole of the round. He concluded his first round Friday morning with a score of 78.
The USGA cited Rule 1.2b, concerning “Code of Conduct,” as the basis for the penalty. This rule covers various infractions, including unacceptable language and the abuse of clubs or the course.
While such a rule has always existed, the USGA and other major golf organizations have recently collaborated to establish consistent conduct guidelines, now applied individually at their respective tournaments.
This renewed emphasis on decorum was evident at the Masters in April, where Sergio Garcia received a warning after a poor drive on the par-5 second hole during the final round.
Garcia was seen slamming his club into the turf twice and striking a table holding a cooler, which resulted in his driver head detaching. The PGA Championship also prominently displayed this policy in the locker room at Aronimink last month.
The general policy adopted by the majors this year typically involves a warning for a first offense, followed by a two-shot penalty for a second violation, and ultimately disqualification for a third. However, Niemann was not issued a warning due to the severe nature of his outburst.
The USGA’s policy for serious misconduct stipulates that if a player’s behavior, or that of their caddie, is “so far removed from what is expected in the spirit of the game of golf,” officials can assess a two-shot penalty or even disqualify the player.
This decision considers “the frequency, impact, intent and severity of the misconduct.”
Although no video footage of Niemann’s club throw has emerged, ShotLink tracer data indicates his initial two tee shots landed far to the right. His third shot found high grass short of the fairway.
From 238 yards, Niemann hacked his next shot into the fairway, but then came up short of the green from 113 yards. It was at this point, according to the play-by-play, that the penalty was applied, turning his initial 9 into an 11.
Niemann, who joined LIV Golf after the 2022 season, recently secured his eighth career victory in South Korea last month.
The rival league, initially funded by Saudi Arabia, now faces an uncertain future as the Public Investment Fund has reportedly ceased its support.
